A method for producing transaction cards corresponding to an account of a customer and bearing an image defined by the customer comprises associating an optically-readable identifier with a customer-defined image to be applied to the transaction card. The optical identifier can be read to reconcile it with a corresponding identifier related to customer account information to be applied to the transaction card. In this way a card may be produced bearing the image defined by the customer and the customer's account information.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for producing a transaction card corresponding to an account of a customer and bearing an image defined by said customer, the method comprising: associating an optically-readable identifier with a customer-defined image to be applied to the transaction card; reading said optically-readable identifier to reconcile said optically-readable identifier with a corresponding identifier associated with customer account information to be applied to the transaction card, wherein said customer account information is provided by a card issuing authority on a secure link to a card finishing facility, wherein only said customer account information is transferred from said card issuing authority to said card finishing facility; and producing a transaction card bearing said customer-defined image and said customer account information.
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of reconciling said optically-readable identifier with said corresponding identifier associated with said customer account information comprises deriving said corresponding identifier from said customer account information.
3. A method as in any preceding claim, wherein said customer account information and/or said corresponding identifier related to it are received securely from a card issuing authority.
4. A method as in claim 1 or 2 wherein after the step of reading said optically-readable identifier, a version of the identifier is encoded onto a recording medium on the transaction card.
5. A method as in claim 4 , wherein said encoded version of the identifier is read as part of the process of reconciliation with said corresponding identifier associated with said customer account information.
6. A method as in claim 4 , wherein the step of encoding a transaction card with a version of the identifier is performed at a site of a card manufacturer.
7. A method as in claim 4 , wherein the step of encoding a transaction card with a version of the identifier is performed at a site of a card finishing facility separate from the site of the card manufacturer.
8. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said customer account information comprises an embossing record for a financial transaction card.
9. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said corresponding identifier associated with the customer account information is derived from the account information.
10. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said corresponding identifier is derived from financial account information.
11. As method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said corresponding identifier is derived from an embossing record.
12. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein au encryption module on a site controlled by said card issuer generates a secure identifier from account information.
13. A method as in claim 12 , wherein said optically-readable identifier and said corresponding identifier correspond to or are derived from said secure identifier.
14. A method, as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein an identifier comprises one or more of: a numeric code; an alpha numeric code; a text code; a non-sequential code; a one-way code; an encryption code; a hash code; meta tags; another suitable identifier.
15. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier comprises one or more of: bar code; a digital signature; text; numerals; alpha numeric code; microdot; micro text; invisible ink; digital watermark or other suitable optically readable codes.
16. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said image and said optically-readable identifier are stored in a storage facility.
17. A method as in claim 16 , wherein said storage facility is on a site controlled by a card graphics hosting service.
18. A method as in claim 16 , wherein said storage facility is on a site of a card finishing facility.
19. A method as in claim 16 , wherein said storage facility is on a site of a card manufacturer.
20. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein cards with said optically-readable identifiers are transferred from the card manufacturer's control to a card finishing facility.
21. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein one or more of the customer-defined image and said optically-readable identifier is placed on the front of a card.
22. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein one or more of the customer-defined image and said optically-readable identifier is placed on the back of a card.
23. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the customer has generated said customer-defined image.
24. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the customer has manipulated said customer-defined image.
25. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the customer has selected said customer-defined image.
26. A method as in claim 25 , wherein an image is selected by a customer from an available collection of images.
27. A method, as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said customer-defined image is uploaded by a customer by means of the interact.
28. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier is placed on said transaction card in a location that is subsequently covered by another feature of the card.
29. A method as in claim 28 , wherein the feature is selected from one or more of: a chip a hologram; or a brand feature.
30. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein identifiers for cards authorized to be issued are received by a card graphics hosting service from an authorized card issuer such that only customer-defined images destined for cards authorized to be issued are supplied for downstream processing.
31. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said customer-defined image can be manipulated in relation to a template displaying one or more non-manipulatable card features.
32. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier is applied to a portion of a card which is removed to generate a finished card.
33. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier is applied to a card in more than one format.
34. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a finishing facility causes customer-defined images to be provided from an image gore based on reconciliation of identifiers.
35. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier is embedded in said customer-defined image.
36. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier and/or an identifier from which it is derived is generated by said card graphics hosting service.
37. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said card issuing authority also provides said corresponding identifier associated with the customer account information.
38. A method for production of a transaction card bearing account information and a customer-defined image, the method comprising: receiving an identifier generated from account information of a customer; generating an optically readable identifier corresponding to said received identifier; associating said optically readable identifier with an image defined by said customer; receiving a corresponding identifier; and reconciling said corresponding identifier and said optical identifier associated with the customer-defined image to cause production of a card bearing the customer-defined image and relevant customer account information, wherein said customer account information is provided by a card issuing authority on a secure link to a card finishing facility, and wherein only said customer account information is transferred from said card issuing authority to said card finishing facility.
39. A method as in claim 38 , wherein said step of associating said optically-readable identifier with an image is performed by a card graphics hosting service.
40. A method for producing a transaction card bearing account information and a customer-defined image, the method comprising: receiving on a secure link from a card issuing authority an identifier derived from customer account information, wherein only said customer account information is transferred from said card issuing authority to a card finishing facility on said secure link; embedding an optically readable version of said identifier in an image defined by said customer; reading said optically readable identifier and encoding a version of the identifier in a recording medium of said transaction card; receiving said account information at a card production facility and independently generating a corresponding identifier therefrom; applying relevant account information and said customer defined image to a transaction card based on reconciliation of said corresponding identifier and said encoded version of the identifier.
41. An apparatus for producing transaction cards hearing customer-defined images, comprising: means for receiving a card bearing a customer-defined image comprising an optically-readable identifier; means for receiving at least financial information relating to a corresponding identifier; means for reconciling said optically-readable identifier and said corresponding identifier; means for applying account information to a transaction card bearing said customer-defined image responsive to said reconciliation step, wherein said account information is provided by a card issuing authority on a secure link, and wherein only said account information is transferred from said card issuing authority.
42. Apparatus as in claim 41 , further comprising means for deriving said corresponding identifier from said account information.
43. Apparatus as in claim 41 , wherein said customer-defined image comprises an embedded optically readable identifier.
44. Apparatus as in claim 41 , wherein said step of reconciling comprises reading said optical identifier and encoding a magnetically readable version of the identifier in a magnetic strip.
45. A method for producing a transaction card corresponding to an account of a customer and bearing an image defined by the customer, the method comprising: providing an interface for a customer to generate a customer-defined image to be applied to a transaction card; associating an optically-readable identifier with said customer-defined image; reading said optically-readable identifier and encoding a version of said identifier on a recording medium of said card; reconciling the encoded version of the identifier with a corresponding identifier related to customer account information to generate a transaction card bearing said customer-defined image and said customer account information, wherein said customer account information is provided by a card issuing authority on a secure link to a card finishing facility, and wherein only said customer account information is transferred from said card issuing authority to said card finishing facility.
46. A method as in claim 45 , wherein said step of encoding a version of said identifier on a recording medium of the card comprises encoding a magnetic version of the identifier on the magnetic strip of a financial transaction card.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 17, 2004
October 1, 2013
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